Tile factory emissions plan considered safe

State environmental officials are confident residents' health won't be put at risk from a plan to significantly increase emissions at a Hunter Valley tile factory.

National Ceramic Industries, at Rutherford, has New South Wales Government approval to have its emissions load limits reset, despite breaching limits in the past.

It is already allowed to emit 560 kilograms of coarse particulates each year, but can now increase that to 26,000 kilograms.

The Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water's Hunter regional manager, Graham Clarke, says the proposal has been rigorously scrutinised.

"We've looked at it pretty closely - both their points or submissions and their modelled emissions, that is the emissions that would affect residents are only going to change very marginally from what they are, so we're comfortable with the proposal," he said.